OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada has long prided itself on its multiculturalism and racial harmony, but the 2019 election campaign has exposed racial tensions, including pictures of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in blackface and the rise of a far-right populist party determined to impose what it calls “Canadian values”.
With six parties competing in a tight election campaign, some candidates now advocate specific policies aimed at limiting freedom of expression for certain cultures.
Most notably, the small far-right People’s Party of Canada (PPC) of former cabinet minister Maxime Bernier wants to slash immigration levels. In statements that are unprecedented for a national party leader, Bernier cites concerns about whether immigrants are aligning with “Canadian Values.”
Bernier has denied that he or his party is racist or is promoting racist policies.
Four parties – Liberals, Conservatives, Greens & Bloc Quebecois – have been forced to ditch or reprimand candidates for making racist remarks. Trudeau apologized in September after being widely criticized when images emerged showing him in blackface at an Arabian Nights party in 2001.
The series of racially charged incidents has led some observers to predict there will be lasting social problems after the Oct. 21 election, which has the ruling Liberals and opposition Conservatives tied in polls.
“I think this is a turning point for Canada. Race is finally an issue here and how we deal with it as a country at the political level, at the social level is going to determine a lot of things going forward,” said Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
Earlier this month, a Montreal man told Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the opposition New Democrats and a practicing Sikh, that he should cut off his turban “to look like a Canadian”. Singh, whose exchange was caught on camera by reporters, replied: “I don’t agree, sir”, telling the man that “Canadians look like all sorts of people.”
In 2019, more than 331,000 newcomers — about 1% of the population — are due to immigrate to Canada.
Not all Canadians view race as a dominant issue. An Ipsos poll this year found 47% of Canadian respondents thought racism was a serious problem, down from 69% in 1992.
In recent Canadian election campaigns, the issue of race lurked below the surface but was less overt.
During the 2015 campaign, for instance, the then-ruling Conservatives unveiled plans for a hotline for Canadians to report “barbaric cultural practices” – a move many said was aimed at Muslims. The Conservatives said at the time the measure was aimed at protecting women and children from forced marriages, polygamy or female genital mutilation.
